Sports and Spirits

A weekly podcast that takes you into the biggest sports events of the week and what you should be drinking with them. Product reviews and ratings.
Matt East and Hank Allen have a combined 30 years experience in broadcast television. We're using that experience to bring you the latest news and topics in the world of sports and to highlight some of the great spirits in the United States and abroad. It's a little sports, spirits, and travel all in one place!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to listen.

Big sports weekend ahead and Matt and Hank are back to break it all down. We're covering all the big stories, plus revisiting a whiskey distillery that you can add to your summer list. Here's how it stacks up. . .

6:00- NBA Finals. We recap game 3 and discuss any chance the Cavs may have. Plus the context of what the Warriors are doing in the playoffs this year

15:30- Stanley Cup. An exciting series so far. How did Nashville even it up, and where does the series go from here. Plus our thoughts on both teams and the city of Pittsburgh.

27:30- Bob Stoops. A shocker in the college football world as Bob Stoops announces he is stepping down. What does it mean for Oklahoma football and where does he rank among the coaching greats.

36:30- Thad Matta is out at Ohio State. Our take on that and some other big coaching spots filled in college basketball.

42:30- A. Smith Bowman Distillery. A great interview with Master Distiller Brian Prewitt about their whiskey and also traveling to see the distillery, as well as the craft distillery business.

1:02:00- NCAA baseball. It's Super Regional weekend. We let you know what you should be watching this weekend.

1:07:30- Jets cleaning house. What does that mean for the upcoming season.

Matt and Hank are back in Episode 37 as we turn the calendar to June. A quick recap of the Coca-Cola 600 and Indy 500 to start followed by a full breakdown of the NBA Finals. What are the keys to success for both the Cavs and Warriors, and who we expect to win the series.

After that we check with Tanteo Spirits to talk about their Tequila. Really great interview talking about infusing the flavor into tequila and how it all comes together. Plus some recipe ideas for the summer. Really good stuff.

Then we turn our attention to the NHL finals. Is it too late for the Predators already? Plus what about throwing catfish on the ice. Then a brief discussion about Bryce Harper's suspension in MLB, and is it fair?

We will wrap up the show talking a little college baseball heading in to regional play this weekend. Plus we give you three first year college football coaches and pick who we think sticks around the longest and get the boot the quickest.

Memorial Day weekend is here! Matt and Hank start off with a little NBA and NHL playoff update. Then it's a big NASCAR segment as we discuss the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 race in Charlotte. We're discussing the race segments, tire changes, and track changes. We bring in our NASCAR insider Chase Wilhelm for some great analysis.

Then we take you to Muddy River Distillery. A really cool rum distillery to check out while you're in town for the race.

Another big show this week as we work through the spring calendar. Matt East and Hank Allen are back to talk sports and whisky. We will start with a look at the NBA. Our thoughts on the playoffs as they stand now, the Spurs without Leonard, the draft win for Boston, and more.

After that we take you to Kentucky to chat with Boone County Distilling. A great interview with one of the founders of the distillery and a very candid look inside the distilling business as well. Their bourbon is really tasty.

Then we delve into the NHL playoffs. How we think it ranks with the playoff excitement of other sports. Plus a big couple weeks for NASCAR on the way leading up to Memorial Day weekend.

We'll throw in a little update on the MLB season a little over a month in, as well as a couple of interesting tidbits to round out the show.

Great show this week with a really great interview. After Matt and Hank open the show Hank sits down for a round table discussion on women in the tech and whiskey industry. We have some heavy hitters talking about the challenges women face and how both of those industries parallel each other in terms of what women go through to be accepted. Along with that we will mix in a tasting and discussion about two products from the Glenfiddich line. Some craft beer talk as well.

After that it's back to sports talk. Matt and Hank talk about the NHL playoffs and where we go from here, as well as what has surprised us so far. Then NBA playoffs as we are basically waiting for a Cleveland/Golden State finals rematch.

We'll wrap it up with an early look at the Vegas predictions for NFL win totals for the upcoming season.

The sports calendar continues to be packed and there are few weekends bigger than Kentucky Derby weekend. We start the show by discussing the current scenarios in the NBA and NHL playoffs. What are we surprised at and where do things go from here.

After that it's Derby time. Our Vegas insider Raphael Esparza joins us with his analysis of the field. What could a cooler Derby mean, and who are the horses to look for. We also talk a bout the big boxing match this weekend, and what's it like in a Vegas Sportsbook on these big weekends. Great insight from him.

After that it's on to talk bourbon and whiskey with Western Spirits. We feature a few of the brands including Calumet Farms, which has two horses in this year's Derby field.

Finally we'll wrap it up with some thoughts on the NFL draft, along with the Boston-Baltimore situation in MLB and if Nick Saban is worth the price at Alabama.

Another packed show today as we roll through April. First off thank you to everyone who listens and we appreciate you spreading the word.

Matt and Hank start off talking NFL draft. Do we think Myles Garrett should be the overall number 1? Plus who are some sleepers we think could make an impact.

After that it's down to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic. Team play on the PGA tour for the first time since 1981. We'll get all the info on the tournament as well as from the beverage side and what's hot right now in the spirits world. Hint: whiskey.

We come back talking NBA playoffs, our thoughts on the career and retirement of Dale Jr. from NASCAR, and the latest headlines in the world of Major League Baseball in our Jump Ball segment.

Big show this week as we head through the month of April. Matt and Hank are here to bring you their thoughts on the NBA and NHL playoffs as the opening rounds continue. What are the surprises and memorable moments so far.

After that it's on to Louisville, Kentucky. Just a couple of weeks away from the Derby we talk to Mint Julep Tours to give you some travel ideas and ways to see the area if you're in town for the race or the upcoming months.

Stay with us because we have a great interview right after that with Thomas Allen Pauly who is the man behind the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottle label. He was also the official artist of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Then we look ahead to the weekend in NASCAR, plus talk about the young Major League Baseball season. We'll wrap up with a look ahead to next week's Zurich Classic on the PGA tour with a brand new first of its kind format.

Episode 30! Matt and Hank give their thoughts on the Masters and Sergio's big win, followed by some NASCAR talk and where things stand heading into Easter weekend. Plus a story of how Matt ended up with part of Richard Petty's engine block.

After that we take you to the Emerald Coast of Florida to talk about the Sandestin Wine Festival April 20-23. Get all the info in our interview with Julie Stuckey.

Then we dip into the NBA playoffs followed by a look at the new NHL playoff format.

It's a big show this week during one of the busiest times of year in sports. Matt and Hank start off with their thoughts on the Final Four, both on the men's and women's side. Who do they think will cut down the nets?

After that we talk to Steve Beam of Limestone Branch Distillery to talk about our spirit of the week, Minor Case Rye. This stuff is fantastic, and Steve joins us for his second appearance on the show with a great expression from his distillery.

Then it's on to the NBA where we talk about Cleveland and whether they can get right for the playoffs. After that we give you our MLB season preview with who we expect to win the divisions and play for the Fall Classic.

Finally we wrap it up with our Jump Ball segment and a couple hot topics in sports. Thanks for listening!

New Orleans' first ever Bourbon Festival is coming up this weekend! Most of the events will be on Friday and Saturday March 24th and 25th. Each day will culminate with a grand tasting featuring close to 90 different offerings from the top names in whiskey. Saturday will feature seminars from the top names in the industry discussing all sorts of topics.

There will also be dinners sponsored by these companies at various restaurants around the city on Thursday night. And the weekend concludes with an awards brunch on Sunday. For all the information on the festival check out http://www.neworleansbourbonfestival.com/main.html

All three guys are on the show this week to break down the NCAA men's tournament. March Madness is in full swing and that will be the topic for most of the show. Matt East and Hank Allen are joined by Nathan Moore as the guys make their picks starting with the Sweet 16 in each region.

We've got some upsets for you along with our Final Four and Championship Picks.

Before that Raphael Esparza joins us to give analysis and insight to the bracket from a Vegas point of view. Esparza works with numerous sports books in the U.S. and abroad.

We'll wrap up the show talking about the first ever New Orleans Bourbon Festival. If you're a bourbon fan you need to be there!